Hunt for escaped inmate continues five days in

HOUGHTON LAKE — An inmate being transported back to Roscommon County from Arenac County by the Arenac County Sheriff’s Department is still loose after escaping May 21 with a deputy’s gun near M-55, west of I-75.

The inmate, 29-year-old Everett Alan Robinson, was last seen wearing gray shorts and a gray shirt with no shoes and broken handcuffs on his right wrist. He was still on the loose as of Friday, May 25. The search area is focused around the M-55 and I-75 interchange in Backus Township. west of Old M-55, after Robinson was reported crossing that road late Wednesday. Michigan State Police 1st Lt. Brian Postma said the search area is bordered by Old M55 on the east, M-55 to the north, Waco road to the south, and Crooked road to the west.

According to Arenac County Undersheriff Don McIntyre, Robinson was sighted May 23, and search teams comprised of officers from numerous law enforcement agencies had started to close in.

The search teams started with a large perimeter — eight miles by eight miles, according to Arenac County Sheriff James Mosciski — but have since started to pull it in, according to Postma. Search teams have been entering to try and flush out Robinson, he said.

Postma added footprints believed to belong to the barefoot Robinson have been found on trails throughout the area.

The sheriff’s department was transferring Robinson back to Roscommon after bringing him to the Arenac County district court, according to Arenac County Sheriff James Mosciski.

“We had a writ from the (district) court to bring him to our court for a home invasion charge,” Mosciski said. “Our officer was taking him back to Roscommon.”

While heading back to Roscommon, Robinson allegedly broke through the divider in the sheriff’s vehicle, overpowered the Arenac sheriff’s deputy, stole the deputy’s gun and the transport vehicle at approximately 9:20 a.m. Monday, May 21. The vehicle was later located on M-55 near Maple Valley Truss, but Robinson is still on the loose, hiding in forest and swampland.

Mosciski said the deputy attacked was shaken up, but is otherwise fine.

According to the Department of Corrections, Robinson is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighs 212 pounds, and has brown hair and hazel eyes.

The Michigan State Police post in Houghton Lake has an incident command sergeant on site. Law agencies involved in the search include the Arenac, Roscommon, Crawford, and Ogemaw sheriff’s departments, the Michigan Department of Corrections, Denton Township police, Gerrish Township Police, and the Department of Natural Resources.

Mosciski said canine units and a helicopter were part of the search for Robinson.

Robinson was arrested for home invasion and on his way to the Roscommon County jail when he escaped. He previously had served nine years for a criminal sexual conduct charge before being released in July.